Last Night a D-Beat Saved My Life: a Retrospective of Contemporary DISCHARGE Worship (2008-2023)

86 bands, about 130 minutes of (noise not) music, 3 nights of curations: a comprehensive overview of what d-beat sounded like between 2008 and 2023 (a couple of songs were actually released in 2024 to be fair). Which is to say, rather rightly, "pretty much all the bloody same". Those who care about variety have probably already fucked off somewhere else so that we are between us now and we can wallow in Discharge worship shamelessly, proudly and with a spirit of collectiveness. Whenever I hear Perkele's corny "Heart full of pride" (which is fortunately not often) I like to think that the singer is actually thinking about loving Discharge instead of a national flag, being hard, wearing the right shoes or whatever skinheads think about (but do we really want to know?).

I recently had a chat with a friend who only vaguely listens to d-beat, from afar, like an unpopular kid watching with envy cool rockers drinking cans of cider at the bus stop, too scared to go talk to them but in awe at the same time. Odd, if anything d-beat lovers are a pretty friendly crowd and, if you forget intense arguments about who actually invented the beat (fuck the Buzzcocks), the anality of discussions about subgenres of d-beat or stud contests, we're fairly welcoming and everyone should be able to enjoy a fair slice of quality d-beat. It should be in the Geneva convention assuming it isn't already. And so this impressionable friend of mine thought that d-beat only referred to the actual beat and that any band using it could be called a d-beat band. Of course I proceeded to teach him in a rather abrupt fashion about what d-beat really stood for, its philosophy and foundational obsession with imitation and how it has become as much about the music than about how we love the music. D-beat is almost music about music in a sense, a comment on itself. After two hours of conference, I think he understood and, judging by his state of exhaustion, I'm sure he'll never have to ask me again and he's now part of the family. I have always been keen on pedagogy. I'm sure he'll be playing these two compilations with gratitude.

Don't ask me why I picked 86 bands because that's just where I closed the selection. The idea was to create two compilations with about an hour of music each illustrating how the genre evolved, solidified further as an actual genre and even how different takes started to appear (from the "just-like-Discharge" sound to the cruder d-beat raw punk stance or the "wall of noise" concept). To normal persons it's all the same racket but the subtleties are real indeed. Since the d-beat explosion of the early and mid 90's, the genre has become legitimate, its rigidity celebrated and no longer freakish if not goofy, its visual template embraced internationally. The number of bands beating the D, with varying degrees of success and taste, in the past 10 years is staggering so that the selection was not an easy process at all. I tried to focus on the original Discharge formula as much as possible so that a lot of very worthy bands did not make the cut because they did not abide by the d-beat rules enough (as I said repeatedly in the series, the genre is based on restrictions). I added some Discharge-loving mid-paced number as well for the compilation to breath a little and the listener to catch his or breath (it is after all quite a listening experience). There are bands from all over the world and hopefully it reflects how global and significant d-beat has become while it originally was very much a gimmicky Swedish phenomenon. I suppose that in this respect, the contemporary explosion of d-beat and its reach must be seen as a result of the rise of worldwide music streaming and social media with the emphasis on looks. No one exists in a vacuum. 

So there you go, these two comps can be seen as a continuation of the first d-beat compilation I did (that I realized was deleted from youtube for some reason and that I shall repost shortly). Obviously, it is impossible to be totally comprehensive and I must have forgotten many bands that could have made it here. Feel free to comment and suggest other bands. Even better, do your own d-beat compilation, the more merrier, yes?

Volume one: 

01. AVSKUM “Klinisk Jävla Dödsdrift” from En Annan Värld Är Möjlig LP, 2023 (Sweden)

02. PHOSPHORE “L’utimatum” from S/T demo tape, 2023 (France)

03. DISPOSE “Whirlwind of chaos” from Horror Revival LP, 2013 (Sweden)

04. HELLISH VIEW “Gaza” from Reaper’s Hand EP, 2019 (U$A)

05. SMELL CORPSES “ตำรวจหัวควย (Police dickhead)” from 5 Track Ep CDr, 2018 (Thailand)

06. FORGET “Tragedias” from Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide tape, 2022 (Berlin)

07. KYLMÄ SOTA “Lupauskia” from 10 Tracks LP, 2010 (Finland)

08. CONTRAST ATTITUDE “Death & horror” from Apocalyptic Raw Assault LP, 2009 (Japan)

09. ARSEHOLES “Manmade extinction” from PHL 2019 one-sided flexi EP, 2019 (U$A)

10. DESTINO FINAL “Este dolor” from Atrapados LP, 2009 (Spain)

11. HORRENDOUS “Ain’t no worthless scrote” from War Is Still… 12’’ EP, 2015 (Sweden)

12. REALITIES OF WAR “When will we ever learn?” from Constructs of Life EP, 2011 (England) 

13. NO FUCKER “Bodies in a pile” from Conquer the Innocent EP, 2008 (U$A)

14. KRASH “Devastation” from Devastation tape, 2020 (Canada)

15. MALIMPLIKI “Tiu estas mia” from Elasta EP, 2015 (Japan)

16. DEPORTATION “Wolnosc agresji” from S/T split EP with CONSTANT STATE OF TERROR, 2010 (Netherlands)

17. DISDAIN “Talpuk Alatt Fütyül a Szél” from Alászállás split LP with CRÜEL NIGHT, 2022 (Hungary)

18. TOTAL BANXAT “Kami dengan apa adanya (PEACE OR ANNIHILATION cover)” from Shadow of Death on Dying Planet CD, 2008 (Indonesia)

19. VÄGRA “Drone warfare” from 8 Tracks Demonstration tape, 2016 (U$A)

20. MAQUINA MUERTA “Tormento de hastio” from S/T split LP with DHK, 2016 (Mexico)

21. VISIONS OF CHAOS “Sick traditions” from 10 Tracks EP tape, 2022 (Germany/Greece)

22. DISPLODE “Children’s comes first” from Apocalypse Approaches/The Face of War split EP, 2012 (France)

23. INFEKZIOA “Baxurdea” from S/T demo tape, 2013 (Spain)

24. DISCOVER “Systemet ska bort” from S/T split EP with ANGER BURNING, 2008 (Sweden)

25. MASSACRE DIVINE “Beijando a morte” from Beijando a Morte EP, 2013 (Brazil)

26. GIFTGASATTACK “Hellish inferno” from 8 Track EP, 2009 (Sweden)

27. BURNING//WORLD “Surviving Hell” from Peace Is No Reality LP, 2022 (U$A)

28. DISABLE “…slamming in the depths of Hell” from …Slamming in the Depths of Hell EP, 2020 (U$A)

29. WARVICTIMS “Ceremoni” from Rå-Punk Militia tape, 2013 (Sweden)

30. WARCRY “Burning society meltdown” from Not So Distant Future LP, 2008 (U$A)

31. SKROT “Karlatornet” from This System Has No Heart LP, 2022 (Sweden)

32. DESPAIR “…and they still ignore” from Visions of the Inferno LP, 2018 (Canada)

33. DESPERDICIO “La ciudad portuaria pequeño” from ¡Impulso De Destrucción! EP, 2011 (Japan)

34. LIFE LOCK “In Hell’s inferno” from 2018 EP, 2019 (Singapore)

35. DISJAWN “After the bomb hits” from Blunt Smoke Night tape, 2018 (U$A)

36. KAWAKAMI NIGHTMARE “Hiroshima” from S/T split Cdr with Нулевой Эффект, 2012 (Ukraine/Belarus)

37. REGIMEN DE TERROR “Guerra total” from S/T EP, 2023 (Spain/Finland)

38. DISHUMAN “Victims of war” from S/T demo tape, 2021 (Portugal)

39. NIGHTFEEDER “Asylum” from Cut All of Your Face Off LP, 2022 (U$A)

40. KRIGSSYTEM “Gas attack” from War Profit? demo tape, 2023 (Greece) 

41. KRITIK “Eget slaveri” from Damaging Distort compilation tape, 2021 (Sweden)

42. ULTIMATE DISASTER “Ruination” from S/T demo tape, 2024 (U$A)

43. FORCLOSE “Hunger” from S/T split tape with DROGATO, 2021 (U$A) 

Volume one

Volume two:

01. ANGER BURNING “Leftovers of war” from When LP, 2012 (Sweden)

02. BETOE “Miedo” from Caminando Sobre Ruinas split tape with DHK, 2014 (Venezuela/Brazil)

03. ANGUISHED LIFE “Bloodstained death” from S/T one-sided flexi EP, 2022 (U$A)

04. DISLICKERS “Final apocalypse” from S/T split EP with GIFTGASATTACK, 2007 (Sweden)

05. EARTH CRUST DISPLACEMENT “Wall of destruction” from Distruction Never Ends split EP with ANGER BURNING, 2014 (Germany)

06. TOTAL SILENCE “The price of war” from Mass Death and Sorrow LP, 2015 (Brazil)

07. DISKOBRA “Sorvadas” from No Hope in Future, No Future in Hope split LP, 2017 (Hungary)

08. DISPUTA “Disaster” from demo recording, 2007? (Spain)

09. BESTHÖVEN “Death don’t choose” from Tomorrow’s Hell EP, 2020 (Brazil)

10. DECADE “Prelude to war” from A Deadly Game of Make Believe EP, 2018 (Canada)

11. DISTRESS “Делай, Что Тебе Говорят” from S/T split LP with SUBURBAN SHOWDOWN, 2009 (Russia)

12. GLORIOUS? “City of cruelty” from Who Are They to Impose Restrictions? LP, 2016 (Sweden)

13. FOSSE COMMUNE “Humans are dead” from S/T tape, 2017 (France)

14. NIETOS DE PUTA “Disyuntiva” from S/T demo tape, 2012 (Spain)

15. MISERÄBLE “Anti portazo” from Dbeat Maniacs tape, 2016 (U$A)

16. DECLARATION “They controlled it” from What Is the Reason For Tomorrow? tape, 2020 (Singapore) 

17. ASPECTS OF WAR “Existence/Extinction” from A Look Into the Nightmare tape, 2017 (U$A)

18. DISEASE “Neverending war crimes” from Neverending War Crimes 12’’ EP, 2016 (Macedonia)

19. LÖCKHEED “In the wake of the blast” from 4 Track demo tape, 2019 (U$A)

20. ELECTRIC FUNERAL “Realities of hell” from In Leagues With Darkness tape, 2010 (Sweden)

21. PHYSIQUE “Why survive” from The Evolution of Combat LP, 2018 (U$A)

22. DISCLONE “Armed children” from Once the Genocide Started tape, 2018 (Austria)

23. PISS SNIFFERS “Επιλογή” from Piss or Annihilation tape, 2020 (Greece)

24. SVAVELDIOXID “Som Något Ur En Mardröm” from Första Dagen Efter Sista Bomben LP, 2021 (Sweden)

25. THISCLOSE “The nightmare is real” from One Foot in the Grave LP, 2014 (England/Scotland)

26. FINAL BOMBS “Reality and truth” from There Is No Turning Back CD, 2010 (Japan)

27. BOMBARDEMENT “Warriors of the night” from S/T LP, 2019 (France)

28. LANGUID “Apocalyptic scars” from A Paranoid Wretch in Society’s Games LP, 2021 (Canada)

29. BLOCKADE “Trenches” from Dead Beat At War demo tape, 2017 (Australia)

30. BIPOLAR “Darkness” from Death By Desperation split EP with NUKELICKERS, 2023 (Greenland)

31. SKELETON “Burning Hell” from S/T split EP with SVAVELDIOXID, 2019 (Canada)

32. BÖMBÄRDEO “Guerra nunca más!” From La Vida Es un Infierno split tape with DHK, 2016 (Chile)

33. KRIGSULVAR “Weapons of destitution” from S/T digital demo, 2020 (U$A)

34. MANIA FOR CONQUEST “Endless bloodbath” from Are We Doomed to Repeat the Mistakes of Our Past? tape, 2015 (U$A)  

35. PROCESS “The spectacle continues” from Our Future? What Future? 12’’ EP, 2014 (U$A)

36. DISSEKERAD “Maktspell” from Inre Strid LP, 2021 (Sweden)

37. PROFOSS “Min egen profoss” from S/T EP, 2018 (Sweden)

38. ATENTADO “Todo Está Oscuro” from Todo Está Oscuro EP, 2009 (Spain) 

39. DISHOPE “Death awaits” from Peace Is More Than the Absence of War tape, 2014 (Germany)

40. BONËCRUTCH “Atomic bomb” from Triumph or Tragedy tape, 2019 (Indonesia)

41. BORN “Before” from Belligerent Onslaught Relentless Noise tape, 2023 (U$A)

42. ELECTRIC MASOCHIST “Are you ready to survive?” From 10 Track Demo!!! Tape, 2022 (Berlin)

43. DEATHTRIBE “In many nightmare” from 3 Track EP plus support/警告 split Ep with KRIEGSHÖG, 2008 (Japan)

Volume two

  

Kurwa CRUST Przeciwny Systemowi! An anthology of Polish crust (1991-2022)

I am finally back after an unusually lengthy break from the blog. Not that I was insanely busy, although I'd love to pretend to. I just needed some time for myself, not unlike a distraught parent leaving his children alone in the wood for a couple of weeks in order to sort his life out or a wrestler who gets injured after attempting an elbow drop from the third rope. I even toyed with the idea of stopping Terminal Sound Nuisance altogether and find another hobby that would bring more attention to my once ravishing greatness and undeniable charisma, like food influencer or a shark whisperer, something contemporary. I even took a pretty pricy but eventually useless selfie class in July (I was unable to pass the test though, something to do with me being the antithesis of photogenic or something). What is the relevance of running a punk blog these days beside making you feel prematurely old? Maybe the quest for relevance is itself irrelevant in this day and age when quantity largely prevails over quantity. The term "content creator" is remarkable in this sense as modern "creators" are not even able to qualify what they offer and resort to the generic and vague term "content" and as pop culture gluttons we stuff ourselves with forgettable but mildly enjoyable shit. Oh well. 

The thing is, despite investigating a number of alternative options, I could not quite figure what I could replace the blog with, which must mean that Terminal Sound Nuisance has to be kept alive. The absence of answer was the answer. And so here I am again, ready to rock (reasonably because of my bad back) and entertain the punk masses, something I was born for although my mum would disagree firmly. 

All this blabbering to say that I am back with a solid CRUST and to get things going again I have something special for you: an anthology of Polish crust. As even the least discerning readers will have noticed (they are few, I am well aware that Terminal Sound Nuisance's readership is notoriously class and well sound), I have a soft spot for Polish crust and, because the genre has never ceased to be not only popular but also strong in this country, working on retrospective compilations made a lot of sense. Fun was had.

I have already written quite extensively about crust and punk in general in Poland throughout the years and re-reading my elegant prose for egotistical inspiration made me realize how prolific, vibrant and dynamic the scene was in the 90's. Indeed, the claim that Poland was a major punk stronghold during that pivotal decade (in terms of bands but also of touring destination) is true and even a quick superficial glance at classic bands like Infekcja, Homomilitia, Sanctus Iuda or Filth of Mankind (to stick to my initial plan) can prove enough to illustrate this. If the crust genre became less popular in many parts of Europe, Polish punks faithfully, loyally kept producing quality crust bands to this day. Many of these bands' reach does not go beyond the country's borders but if you bother looking for information, instead of waiting passively for information to look for you, you will make some new friends. But since you are most certainly a lazy bum, I am more than happy to take on that role.

While selecting and compiling the songs, I wondered with a Sartre-looking expression if Polish crust could be described as its own subgenre, like the Greek or Japanese schools of crust, or if it was merely crust sung in Polish. While I would argue that its identity is not as strong and peculiar as its aforementioned two cousins, there are enough common recurring traits among all the bands to hypothesize a "Polish crust sound". First, with almost all the bands singing in Polish, the language with its sonorities, dynamic accents, its flow and pronunciation has an impact on the overall sound and gives it an aggressive edge. Second, more often than not, right from the start, Polish crust has displayed a heavy, crunchy, dark metallic influence, not in the apocalyptic sense like the Greeks (with some exceptions) but faster, thrashier and keeping a raw intensity. It should be pointed out as well that, originally and distinctly, more than in any other countries, Polish crust bands must be said to have been some of the best examples of fast and pummeling 90's eurocrust, far more Hiatus than Doom if you wish and if the genre evolved along with the rest of global crust scene (Japan being the usual exception) these are the basis and basics.

Do these can justify and potentially cement the "genrification" of Polish crust? Probably not, such elements can be found in other scenes abroad, however they still stand as meaningful, defining traits running through a large enough body of works for me to offer cohesive and coherent compilations. By no means has Polish crust been undisturbed and insensitive to the various international crust waves as the comps can attest. Some bands are more progressive, to the extent of neocrusting at times, others are heavily infused with death, black or doom metal, but the similarities are sufficiently present and relevant. I chose to leave out bands that, I felt, as good as they might be thought to be, did not totally qualify as crust although they certainly had crust elements like Silence, Deczcz or Evil or some of the faster 90's anarchopunk bands. Or as my sensei would sometimes tell me when he was teaching me the way: "it ain't crust enough my little lad". On the other hand, I did include some bands that are often seen as pertaining to the early grindcore scene, like Toxic Bonkers or Grossmember, but shared enough common points with their crusty contemporaries at some point. Subjectivity, yeah? 

I tried to be exhaustive without but I probably missed out some bands, either out of sheer forgetfulness or because they were either just too obscure or because Alzheimer arrived early at the party. In any case, you are more than welcome to mention bands that could have made it here or to point out mistakes. The more the merrier like my gran would say, although she was mostly referring to wine I guess. There are 2 compilations with 43 bands and songs in total ranging from the proto-crusty year of 1991 to our fetid modern time. Thanks to the people I borrowed (well...) the pictures from.

In bimber there is no choice    

PART ONE:

01. HOMOMILITIA "Intro + To możliwe jest tylko tutaj" from Twoje Ciało Twój Wybór Lp, 1996 (Łódź)

02. HELLISHEAVEN "Sedes sapientiae ora pro se" from S/t split Lp with CREEPIN CORRUPT, 2009 (Lublin)

03. DRIP OF LIES "Lies" from S/t demo, 2009 (Warszawa)

04. SOCIAL CRISIS "Zachowaj spokój" from S/t split Ep with WOJNA, 2018 (Biała Podlaska)

05. FUCK FINGER "Zdrajczynie" from S/t tape, 2002 (Łuków)

06. S.O. WAR "Mili chłopcy z policji" from Bullshit Propaganda tape, 1998 (recorded in 1993), (Strzelce Opolskie)

07. UNDECIDED "Pokoj W niebie jak i na ziemi" from S/t tape, 1996 (Bartoszyce)

08. PATROMONIUM DEL PUEBLO "Pliczy się tylko muzyka..." from Pustka tape, 1999 (Dąbrowa Górnicza)

09. HUFF RAID "Insect" from Euro Tour Tape, 2017 (Toruń)

10. CEASELESS DESOLATION "Jutro" from Nicość Lp, 2013 (Lublin)

11. BURN THE CROSS "Thirteen" from S/t split Ep with HOLY EXTERMINATION, 2013 (Jasło)

12. FILTH OF MANKIND "The foundation" from They've Taken Everything - A Tribute to Icons of Filth double cd compilation, 2007 (Gdańsk)

13. SORROW "Black crow" from Black Crow Lp, 2022 (Poznań)

14. MITRĘGA "Przelana czara" from Kraina Wpływów split Lp with NON PRESIDENT, 2015 (Lublin)

15. CHORYGEN "Ścierwa" from S/t Ep, 2014 (Łódź)

16. DISABLE "Wojna 1" from S/t cdr demo, 2003 (Łódź)

17. STRADOOM TERROR "Kapitalistyczni hipokryci" from Głuchy Głos Protestu?... split tape with NON TIBI SPIRO, 1996 (Rzeszów)

18. ALCHEMIK SENDIVIUS "Cholerny sen" from Przeciwko Wiwisekcji demo/live tape, 1993 (Grudziądz)

19. GROSSMEMBER "Fucking pigs" from 4-way split tape with AGATHOCLES/DISCHORD/OPC, 1997 (Warszawa)

20. MIND "Full of dark memory" from S/t split Ep with DISTRESS, 1998 (Łódź/Berlin)

21. PIEKŁO KOBIET "W Pułapce Dziedzictwa" from Wyzwolenie Kobiet Wyzwoleniem Mężczyzn = Liberation Of Women, Liberation Of Men 10", 1998 (Łuków)

22. DISGUSTING LIES "Administracja" from Rich Man/Poor Man Ep, 1996 (Łódź)

PART ONE

PART TWO:

01. INFECKJA "Ziemia" from S/t Ep, 1997 (Wrocław)

02. ENOUGH! "Dlaczego" from Darkside tape, 1996 (Gdańsk)

03. CHORY "Krzyże hipokryzji" from S/t tape, 2000 (Bielsko-Biała)

04. HOLY EXTERMINATION "They need blood" from S/t split Ep with BURN THE CROSS, 2013 (Nowy Sącz)

05. WOJNA "Stołkowe kurwy" from S/t split Ep with SOCIAL CRISIS, 2017 (Poznań)

06. TOXIC BONKERS "Kłamstwa w imię Boga" from S/t demo tape, 1994 (Łódź)

07. HOSTILITY "Tak bardzo sie boisz" from ...I Niech Jeden Strzał... tape, 1995 (Białystok)

08. BISECT "Zdyscyplinowane ogniwa" from Nastepna Krwawa Interwencja tape, 1995 (Radom)

09. SILNA WOLA "Anarchistyczny Czarny Krzyż" from Zero Akceptacji Dla Państwa Chiny tape, 1997 (Lebork)

10. TRÜD "Samogwałt" from Wszechświat B tape, 2016 (Torun)

11. VICTIM OF TRUTH "Więcej" from S/t cdr demo, 2010 (Biała Podlaska)

12. DEATH CRUSADE "W zamian" from Rakieta//Bomba Lp, 2017 (Gdańsk)

13. MENTAL ABERRATION "Cywilizacja" from Okrutna Rzeczywistość tape, 1991 (Gdańsk)

14. RZEŹNIA "Machina spoleczna" from Żreć tape, 1996 (Opole)

15. NON TIBI SPIRO "666" from Głuchy Głos Protestu?... split tape with STRADOOM TERROR, 1996 (Rzeszów)

16. MONOTEIZM CO-EXISTENCE "A homo sapie" from Patrz I Odczuj! tape, 1998 (Kolno)

17. SANCTUS IUDA "Prawdziwe Oblicze Kapitalizmu" from Rząd-Korporacje-Wy/Zysk tape, 1995 (Białystok)

18. NON PRESIDENT "Aborcja" from S/t split Lp with HUFF RAID, 2018 (Wojcieszów)

19. SCUMSTADT "Ścierwogród" from S/t cd, 2018 (Łódź)

20. LOST "Jak długo jeszcze" from Strach Lp, 2003 (Łódź)

21. MONEY DRUG "Przymus Państwa from S/t split Ep with WIND OF PAIN, 1995 (Gdańsk)

PART TWO

The Stench of the Millennium: at the Core of 00's Crust

Hallo there, how is crust?

It took me fucking hours but here it finally is: my 00's crust compilations. I suppose it does not come as a big surprise since the 90's got the same treatment and, after all, it's my job to keep crust punk elite (I have been known as the Fat Mike of crust in some quarters, although I would like to point out that I am much slimmer and have better tastes in music). 

 

You know the drill by now as far as Terminal Sound Nuisance's homemade compilations go but, because I care about newcomers to this blog, I am going to provide some sort of guide to my compiling genius. This time around my focus was on 00's crust music from an international perspective and as you can expect it was a monstrous undertaking. If I have often referred to the 90's as the preeminent crust decade because the genre exploded during that period, there were probably more crust bands - in the broadest sense of the term - in the decade that followed. This can be explained by the growing ramifications of the genre with the strengthening and solidification of subgenres (like stenchcore and crasher crust) combined with the fissiparous creation of new subdivisions (like neocrust or blackened crust), both phenomenon strongly influenced by new punk trends. Logical developments I suppose. 

The selection is, as usual, subjective and reflects my definition of crust music (aka the official party line). Matters of space, time and personal taste led me to exclude so-called the neocrust bands (or melodic crust or epicrust or tragicrust whatever) from the compilations. Boundaries are often difficult to draw but, when I felt a crucial line was crossed, when bands transgressed too radically crust's immemorial unwritten laws (meaning the 80's), I decided to leave them out. This said, I would be interested - though not exactly glad - to listen to a "best of 00's neocrust" selection so if you are brave enough to take on the challenge you know what to do. This said, you will find a couple of bands influenced by His Hero Is Gone on the compilations but that were still infected enough with the crust virus. Similarly, crusty bands that sounded too close to death-metal or thrash-metal did not pass, not because I dislike them but because I did not see myself working on a fourth volume. Basically I gave Stagnation a pass because I wanted a all out Bolt Thrower-type band but War Master did not make it pretty much because they all had long hair.  

To think about music in terms of decades may not be the most relevant method. Indeed, the early 00's saw the last valorous efforts of classic 90's crust bands like Homomilitia, Axiom or Policebastard while a brand new generation of crust bands - Last Legion Alive, Cancer Spreading or Contagium - was only emerging by the end of it and such crusty congregations went on to achieve legitimate expectations in the 2010's. Iconic crust immortals Warcollapse, Doom, Misery and Extinction of Mankind kept delivering the goods at their own pace, unhindered by the passing of time, and of course many great bands lived and died during the decade, soap-dodging fragile transient angels like After the Bombs, Stormcrow or Lost. As a result, bands from different waves and from both ends of the decade coexist in the compilations and I will admit that anthologies using more precise and narrower selection methods focused on stylistic content rather than chronology would perhaps have been more relevant, but then the comprehensive and thorough blog reviews deal with this more cerebral side of things. Let's just see these compilations as a general look at the different styles and waves of crust bands that evolved in the 00's and, well, as hopefully fun listens.

 

I had chosen to divide my compilations about 90's crust in terms of style and pace. Two volumes dealt with metallic stench-y crust bands while the third one was all about cavemen crustcore. For the 00's I decided to apply a cross-disciplinary approach, a deceptively fancy term which sonically translates as a massive, primitive but differently-paced brawl between the various crust schools, united in their intent to provide a seriously angry bollocking to the listener while also showing their belief in the coming apocalypse. You will find the obvious stenchcore revival heavyweights (the most significant event of the decade), Japanese crasher crust, metallic eurocrust, epic Greek crust, grinding crustcore, cavemen crust, some more progressive crust acts and even a couple of bands toying with "neocrust" influences. The scope is more international than on my previous efforts and, although 00's crust has often been described as redundant, you will realize that, when one - in a heroic effort - actually dares to dive into the depths of the dark abyss of crust music, one can find little-known gems. Therefore, crust stalwarts such as Hellshock, Dystopia or Effigy rub shoulders with the very obscure and rather sloppy Esporrro, Relics of Future or Axebastard (the kind of bands you would only know if you actually played in them if you know what I mean). This was an important point of the compiling process as I intended to show that DIY crust was not just about tight, proficient and well-recorded 00's North American bands (that would take whole compilations in itself) and that it also welcomed rough, messy, puerile and savage bearlike noizy bollocks from the periphery (if you so happen to be a scholar, you might say it is akin to a decentering of the enunciative subject but that would make you sound like a massive twat). Also, I left out many Japanese crust bands because of I already tackled their 00's wave thoroughly last year. 

In the end, the inclusion of Crow in those new compilations might be the most surprising of all, especially since I didn't invite them to the aforementioned Japanese feast. Of course Crow were never an actual crust band. Still, while it did not seem to make sense to add a Crow song to the 00's Japanese crust selection, it did feel necessary to pick an extract from Bloody Tears for inclusion on the global one. Perhaps because this album makes more sense as a 00's crust work than one abiding by the rule of Japanese crust. I don't lose sleep over it but I did think hard about the issue which, if anything, proves that the lockdown really has to end quickly.  

I ripped as many songs as possible from my record collection and tried to find decent music files for the rest but sound quality - not to mention musicianship - does vary from a song to the other. Still I feel it is the best I could do given what I had to work with and the time and effort it took to see that through. There you go then, enjoy those three compilations and feel free to comment and point out bands I might have forgotten or you consider should have been included. 

But no more tergiversating. Let's bloody 'ave it!

Part one:

01. Effigy « Stark moon », from From Hell Ep, 2003 (Japan)
02. Stormcrow « Enslaved in darkness », from Enslaved in Darkness Lp, 2005 (U$A)
03. Infekcja « Stupor », from Przegrani Lp, 2003 (Poland)
04. Raw Noise « Pain and gain », from Scum Will Rise to the Top Ep, 2009 (England)
05. Αιώνιο Σκότος « Κραυγές Αγωνίας », from Σ Ένα Θρόνο Προπαγάνδας cdr, 2005 (Greece)
06. Berserk « Eclissi », from Apocalypse demo cdr, 2006 (Italy)
07. Hangover Overdose « Ainut kristitty », from S/t split cdr with Noittus, 2007 (Finland)
08. Dažd « Императив Последњег Доба », from S/t Lp, 2009 (Serbia)
09. Sharpeville « The wound aren’t going to heal », from At the Late Hours Before the Dawning of our Abundance Lp, 2000 (Finland)
10. Axiom « This isn’t life », from Apathy and Privilege Lp, 2000 (U$A)
11. Bio Crisis « Perdido en la mentira », from S/t split Ep with Slaktattack, 2009 (Mexico)
12. Dirty Power Game « Ethnic war », from Figli Della Vostra Catastrofe cd, 2004 (Italy)
13. Sickness « GxC party », from S/t Ep, 2000 (France)
14. Extinction of Mankind « Man’s last breath », from Northern Scum Lp, 2007 (England)
15. Χειμερία Νάρκη « Χειμερία Νάρκη », from Στη Σιωπή Της Αιώνιας Θλίψης Lp, 2003 (Greece)
16. S.O.L. « Game over », from S/t split Lp with Pack, 2004 (Germany)
17. Deceiving Society « Achieve », from Detonation Cruster cd, 2009 (recorded in 2001) (Japan)
18. Dread 101 « Ústa Plná Krve », from S/t split Lp with Social Insecurity, 2002 (Czech)
19. After the Massacre « A future discarded », from A Future Discarded to the Bonepits cd, 2006 (England)
20. Acursed « Escape », from Livet Är Den Längsta Vägen Till Helvetet cd, 2003 (Sweden)
21. AGE « Plunderer », from Four Wings Lp, 2001 (Japan)
22. Bärrikäädi « Crust warriors », from S/t split cd with Esporrro, 2009 (Brazil)
23. Axebastard « Bastard (militaristic gear) », S/t demo cdr, 2009 (Finland)
24. Desobediencia Civil « Slave to convention (Doom cover ) », from No Hay Libertad sin Desobediencia cd, 2001 (Mexico)
25. Scorned « Never question », from S/t split Ep with Hellbound, 2000 (U$A)
26. Cancer Spreading « Marcia funebre / L'era del niente », from S/t split Lp with Disköntroll, 2009 (Italy)
27. Hellshock, « Last sunset », from S/t Ep, 2003 (U$A)
28. Contrast Attitude « You’re not free », from Sick Brain Extreme Addict Ep, 2003 (Japan)
29. Death Dust Extractor « Slave in chains », from Slay Your Masters or Slave in Chains Ep, 2008 (Japan)
30. Stagnation « Interceptor », from S/t Ep, 2008 (U$A)
31. Alehammer « Slowburn », from Mine’s a Pint of Crust 10’’, 2007 (England)
32. Another Oppressive System « Population control », from S/t split Ep with Human Waste, 2004 (U$A)
33. Deskarga Etílíka « Esta sistema não resulta », from Apunkalipse Now cd, 2003 (Portugal)
34. Disgusting Lies « Bez wyboru », from No Choice No Way / Non Cè Limite Al Peggio split Lp, 2005 (Poland)
35. Bumbklaatt « Debil o fuerte », from S/t Ep, 2003 (Mexico)
36. Man the Conveyors « Paralysis », from Cheers! Cd, 2008 (U$A)
37. Devastated Goes… « Distinction », from Devastation demo car, 2007 (Japan)
38. Detritus « Distorted sureness », from S/t Lp, 2009 (recorded in 2005) (Belgium)
39. Warprayer « The night takes the pawn », from S/t split Lp with Morne, 2009 (England)
40. Anguish « Nighted silence », from Within the Darkness Ep, 2009 (U$A)

The Stench of the Millennium (part 1) 

 

Part two:

01. Acrostix « Filth chain », from Crust Night 2002, the War Begins for Them compilation cd, 2002 (Japan)
02. Giuda « Il ritorno del terrore », from Decadenza Lp, 2008 (Italy)
03. Coaccion « Vacio », from Invertebrado cd, 2004 (Mexico)
04. Mind « Nothing », from …Your Own Business Lp, 2001 (Poland)
05. Policebastard « Sweatin’ green », from Cursed Earth Ep, 2002 (England)
06. Summon the Crows « Wind of chains », from Scavengers Feast Lp, 2006 (Norway)
07. Uncle Charles « Värdighet kostar pengar », from In Crust we Trust 10’’, 2004 (Sweden)
08. Esporrro « Extinção », from S/t split cd with Bärrikäädi, 2009 (Brazil)
09. Χημική-Επιδημία «  Πνοή Θανάτου », from Στην-Πόλη-Του-Χάους cd, 2003 (Greece)
10. Fight Back « Working class attack », from Crust is Dead compilation tape, 2001 (Croatia)
11. Agree To Differ « Void of humanity », from S/t demo tape, 2001 (?) (Japan)
12. Last Legion Alive « Tomb of dirt », from S/t demo cdr, 2009 (Belgium)
13. Skunk « Animals in pain », from S/t tape, 2008 (Canada)
14. Monuments to Ruins « Sleep rite », from Under the Guise of Progress… the Rise of Deceit Lp, 2005 (U$A)
15. Hellisheaven « Napalm parson », from S/t split Lp with Creeping Corrupt, 2009 (Poland)
16. Blowtorch Serenadę « Skull attack », from unknown recording, 2008 (?) (England)
17. Dischord « Amargo existencial », from S/t split Ep with Čad, 2002 (Brazil)
18. Disturd « Life », from Darkness…Faint Gleam… tape, 2007 (Japan)
19. Warcollapse « Defy! », from Defy! cd, 2007 (Sweden)
20. Cop On Fire « Solo », from S/t split Lp with Visions of War, 2005 (Spain)   
21. M.V.D. « Armut », from War Species Lp, 2009 (Germany)
22. Flyblown « Intimidate and the eradicate », from The Fear and the Fury Lp, 2005 (England)
23. Against-Empire « Stop the torture », from The Ones who Strike the Blows Forget… The Ones who Bear the Scars Remember Lp, 2005 (U$A)
24. Sanctum « Overthrown », from S/t split Lp with Stormcrow, 2006 (U$A)
25. Atroz Destrucción « Libro infernal », from Falsas Promesas cd, 2009 (Mexico)
26. Lost « Cykl ludzkości », from Fear-Strach Lp, 2003 (Poland)
27. Defector « Punk system destroy », from パンクシステムデストロイ(Punk System Destroy) Ep, 2003 (Japan)
28. Human Waste « Avsky », from I Skuggan Av Erat Sverige Ep, 2001 (Sweden)
29. NIS « Condannato all’estraneità », from Presagi di un’Insulsa Rovina demo cdr, 2008 (Italy)
30. After The Bombs « Black wind of fear », from Relentless Onslaught Lp, 2007 (Canada)
31. Consume « Like father like son », from S/t split Lp with Born/Dead, 2003 (U$A)
32. Zyanose « Media », from Loveless Ep, 2008 (Japan)
33. Abraham Cross « End of time »,from Tokyo Sound System 1+2=3 2xcd compilation, 2007 (Japan)
34. Intoxicate « Amen », from Toxic Years cd, 2006 (Croatia)
35. Visions of War « Nailed conscience », from S/t split Lp with Olho de Gato, 2002 (Belgium)
36. Dödsfälla « Nightmare shadow », from Death Future Lp, 2009 (U$A)
37. Filth of Mankind « Obłędna Rzeczywistość », from The Finał Chapter Lp, 2006 (recorded in 2000) (Poland)
38. T.R.I.B.E. « Rise! », from Nation, State and Liberty split cd with Ruin, 2007 (Scotland)
39. Phalanx « To tame a land », from S/t Lp, 2002 (U$A)
40. Doom « Just another day », from World of Shit Lp, 2001 (England) 

 

The Stench of the Millennium (part 2) 

 

Part three:

01. Campus Sterminii « Non c’e’ limite al peggio », from Life is a Nightmarish Struggle Lp, 2009 (Italy)
02. Limb From Limb « Relentless torment », from Death.Famine.Plague Lp, 2007 (Canada)
03. Hermit Prose « Dissolving soon », from Down Beat Sect Ep, 2006 (Japan)
04. State of Filth « Filth », from S/t split cd with Anarchy Spanky, 2003 (England)
05. Pack « Booze for future », from Booze for future Ep, 2005 (Switzerland)
06. Nulla Osta « Horizonti », from Omnia Morituri Sumus split Ep with Campus Sterminii, 2007 (Croatia)
07. Los Rezios « Ellos nos odian », from Destroy the Guetto…!!! Split Ep with Battle of Disarm, 2007 (Peru)
08. Hellstorm « Going to an end », from S/t one-sided Lp, 2010 (recorded in 2009) (Greece)
09. Battle of Disarm « Liberate Earth », from Destroy the Guetto…!!! Split Ep with Los Rezios, 2007 (Japan)
10. System Shit « Lost control », from S/t split Ep with Bloody Phoenix, 2006 (Canada)
11. Drunkard « What about », from S/t split Ep with Cornucopia, 2000 (Australia)
12. Dystopia « My meds aren’t working », from S/t Lp, 2008 (U$A)
13. Crow « 絶叫 », from Bloody Tears Lp, 2006 (Japan)
14. Roxor « Sluby », from S/t tape, 2008 (Slovakia)
15. Svart Aggression « När Världen Sakta Ruttnar Bort », from Tänk Själv Ep, 2006 (Sweden)
16. Gurkha « The weight », from R’n’r Engine / Drinking From the Skulls of Dead Gods split cd, 2006 (England)
17. Massakro « Infanticidio », from S/t cd, 2003 (Mexico)
18. Minus « Extinct population », from Singapore Punk Holocaust compilation cd, 2007 (Singapore)
19. Hellbound « Negative outlook », from S/t split cd with Despite, 2002 (Canada)
20. Affect « Proof of life », from Darkness Silence cdr, 2004 (Japan)
21. React « His children play with knives », from Deus Ex Machina cd, 2000 (U$A)
22. Relics of Future « Dark age », from S/t demo cdr, 2008 (Germany)
23. Proof of Existence « Religious terror », from Scriptural Disaster Lp, 2003 (U$A)
24. Mass Mierda « Que es lo que esperabais », from El Olor a Extinción cd, 2005 (Spain)
25. Kontrovers « Livlös », from S/t cd, 2002 (Sweden)
26. Massgrave « Corruption of innocence », from S/t split Lp with Stormcrow, 2008 (Canada)
27. Misery « Fine day », from S/t split cd with Path of Destruction, 2007 (U$A)
28. Disdomestic Violence « War crimes », from Tokyo Sound System 1+2=3 2xcd compilation, 2007 (Japan)
29. Behind Enemy Lines « Army of god », from The Global Cannibal cd, 2003 (U$A)
30. Nuclear Death Terror « In the shadow of the gallows », from S/t Lp, 2006 (Denmark)
31. Mass Genocide Process « Inner circle of fear », from S/t split Lp with Visions of War, 2005 (Czech)
32. Revölt « Conquest or liberation », from Gate of Holocaust Lp, 2007 (Japan)
33. Krush « Zero tolerance », from What is Wrong with this Picture? Split Ep with Gritos de Alerta, 2004 (Netherlands)
34. Horror Humano « Horro humano », from S/t cd, 2008 (Argentina)
35. Reduction « Social disorder », from Social Disorder Ep, 2002 (Japan)
36. Instinct of Survival « Winter in my mind », from Winter in my Mind Ep, 2006 (Germany)
37. Contagium « Cold mind », from S/t Ep, 2009 (Canada)
38. Homomiltia « Pomysl O Tym », from S/t Lp, 2020 (recorded in 2000) (Poland)
39. Zoe «  Be celled and be chain of master », from The Last Axe Beat Lp, 2004 (Japan)
40. Morne « Twilight burns », from Demo 2008 Lp, 2009 (U$A) 

 

The Stench of the Millennium (part 3)